CLAY BANKS - For months, Dale and Karen Cihlar have carried a heavy weight — the dairy farm that had been in Dale's family since 1873 was facing financial ruin.

Years of stagnant milk prices, a growing pile of bills, a depleted savings account and the deaths of several prize milking cows seemed insurmountable, and the couple was despondent. After Dale's plea for another farm loan for $35,000 was rejected, Karen decided to try something she knew Dale would never agree with — asking other people to help them.

A GoFundMe plea asking for $35,000 posted March 18 by Karen gained traction on social media and was described in an article by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

By Aug. 1, the GoFundMe site had raised almost $15,000, and Dale also got a part time job with a Sturgeon Bay firm. The money alleviated some of the financial pressure, but the fate of the family dairy farm continued to be precarious.

Then, another set-back hit — Dale injured his left foot and needed surgery. It meant he couldn't work, more bills were accumulating and Karen was taking time off from her job to run the farm with the help of her son and grandson.

"Things were going OK and we've been praying that milk prices will increase," Dale said during a follow-up interview with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Aug. 14.

Dale and Karen, generally optimistic people, were discussing selling a portion of the farm, or facing bankruptcy.

"We have faith and we keep praying," Karen said.

The follow-up story about the Cihlar's experiences included in USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin websites and newspapers prompted additional media outlets to run similar stories describing the Cihlar's plight. By Aug. 24, Karen's GoFundMe account was showing hundreds of donations.

"It's like a miracle, the site just exploded," Karen said.

The GoFundMe account now has more than $90,000, raised by 1,852 people.

Karen and Dale are using the extra funds to hire farm help while Dale recuperates from ankle surgery. All of the feed mill bills are paid as are the repairs for some of the farm machinery.

The extra funds also are paying for the additional cows to bring their milking herd up to 40 head.

Back in May, Dale was optimistic that milk prices will improve.

"They've been low for almost five years and that can't continue because if it does, there isn't going to be a dairy farmer left," he said.

The majority of the donations are $50 or less and come from across the nation. Most are from people who want to remain anonymous, Karen said.

"It is unbelievable," Karen said."We just can't stop crying. Our prayers have been answered, and I believe our farm will be saved so it can be passed on to the next generation."

There are many dairy farmers in similar dire straits, she said. After they get back on their feet, the goal is to "pay it forward," adding "we're going to help out a dairy farm family whose story is similar to our's — where they are fighting to stay farming."